Wildlife society recycles Christmas trees to help injured animals

If you’re still looking to offload your Christmas tree, there are several squirrels, birds and other creatures at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton that would be happy to take it off your hands.

Staff at the non-profit centre are using recycled Christmas trees to help make recovering wild animals feel more at home – whether it’s by adding a few branches to an enclosure for cover, providing a perch for a healing bird or simply giving an animal something to munch on.

“It’s really important to have natural plant species and stuff in the enclosure because that’s what they’d be surrounded by in the wild,” said staff member Carly Lynch.

The society posted a message to their Facebook page asking Edmontonians to donate their old trees on December 31, and say the community’s response has been overwhelming.

“It’s been crazy,” said Lynch, noting that more than 15 trees have already been dropped off, and more were expected over the weekend.

“This is something that we’re going to be trying to do every year because it’s really, really useful for us,” she said.

And, Lynch added, using recycled trees enriches the lives of the injured animals without removing any additional trees from the wilderness.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society is currently taking care of 20 animals, including migratory birds, squirrels, bats, baby skunks and an adult fox.

Anyone wishing to donate their tree is asked to first carefully remove all ornaments and tinsel, and then drop the tree at the centre north of Spruce Grove (53327 Range Road 271).

In addition to Christmas trees, Lynch said the society is also hoping someone will donate a woodchipper, which would help the trees be broken down and put to further use.